Geraldine Feeney (Fianna Fail)

I support Senator Henry. On Second Stage we had a wide-ranging debate on this issue when we all put our views to the Minister of State at the Department of Heath and Children, Deputy Tim O'Malley, who was here that day. Some 94 countries refer to physiotherapists as physical therapists, including in Northern Ireland. These Northern Ireland physical therapists come south and continue to operate as physical therapists. They probably do not refer to themselves as physiotherapists.

There is a danger the public will be confused. While no harm may be done, confusion leaves the gate open for a less safe practice to be introduced. As Senator Henry said, different standards of education are required for entry into both disciplines but it is important that the term "physical therapist" should be preserved and only used by physiotherapists. I spoke to a physiotherapist who stated her colleagues would welcome an opportunity to work hand in hand with physical therapists. Physiotherapists fail to see a reason they should not work together and, in some cases, they work alongside each other.

However, this issue must be examined. The term "physical therapist" should be reserved only for the use of physiotherapists so that these professionals can be known as physiotherapists/physical therapists. I sat on the Medical Council for five years. If the council approved herbalists as medical practitioners, there would be major consternation because anybody examining the medical register would not know whether a person was a medical practitioner or a herbalist. This will come back to haunt us and provision should be made to differentiate between both disciplines.